By Prior Beharry
THE Citizens Union of Trinidad and Tobago (CUTT) tells Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that mandatory vaccination is violation of human rights.
In a letter sent to Dr Rowley on Thursday, CUTT stated: “Rumors of vaccine passports and other discriminatory policies will be resisted vigorously.
“The Citizens Union of Trinidad and Tobago has noted the increased misinformation being spread by the State relative to mandatory vaccines.
“We say in response to those agents, that forced mandatory vaccinations are a violation of human rights and civil liberties.
“We believe the act of injecting someone without their consent is a violation of their personal liberties and an assault on the body.”
Referring to children returning to physical school, CUTT stated that on August 28, Dr Rowley said, “That option is going to be offered to vaccinated children only. And those children who are not vaccinated will get their education, at this time, by an alternative means which the Ministry of Education will outline in the near future.”
It stated that that statement casued great concern as the Constitution speaks to the rights of citizens to life, liberty, security, equality before the law, private life and family life.
CUTT stated that the right of children to access education and for the state to provide a school was also enshrined in the Constitution.
It stated, “As a result of the statement made by the Prime Minister it is likely that the state intends to create a policy that infringes on one or more of the aforementioned enshrined rights.”
CUTT asked the attorney general to advise the Cabinet to avoid a policy of mandatory vaccination for students.
It called on the government to protect people from contracting Covid-19.
CUTT stated, “Government must also admit that the at risk profile are persons with severely compromised immune systems due to advanced chronic conditions or underlying comorbidities, the very elderly and the obese, and that the government must take steps to protect THOSE persons from contracting Covid if it is the government’s intention to save lives.”
It stated that while Covid-19 was contagious, it was not serious or deadly toe vast majority of people.
CUTT stated, “Vaccinate to operate and vaccinate to educate are ridiculous positions to take in the face of all this fact, and the Citizens Union of Trinidad and Tobago calls for a freedom of choice posture where vaccines are concerned as the only life a person can put at risk or save by a vaccine is their own.”
Seventeen people signed the letter copied to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh and Minister of Education Nyan Gadby-Dolly. They include:
- Phillip Edward Alexander, Executive Director CUTT;
- Vernon De Lima, SC;
- Senator David Nakhid;
- Dr Paul Alexander, epidemiologist;
- Stephan Reis, talk show host;
- Marsha Walker;
- Vindra Maharaj, attorney;
- Ashton Dinanath, attorney;
- Adita Seenath, attorney;
- Shalane Bharath, attorney;
- Melissa Jadoonanan, attorney;
- Andel Daberam;
- Diane Hadad, Chairman Tobago Chamber of Commerce;
- Felicia Holder, Chief Operations Officer of CUTT;
- Sateesh Ramsaran, Communications and Logistics Director of CUTT;
- Shawn Siewnarine, Membership Director of CUTT; and
- Janice Learmond-Crique, PRO of CUTT
